April 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 and EB-3 Categories Reach 'Current' Status

The U.S. Department of State released the April 2026 Visa Bulletin with significant positive developments for employment-based immigrants, particularly those in the EB-2 and EB-3 preference categories. For the first time in years, priority dates in certain EB-2 and EB-3 categories have advanced to 'current' status, meaning there is no longer a processing queue or wait time to be eligible for immigrant visas abroad or to adjust status to permanent residence in the United States. This development is especially notable for EB-3 applicants who have faced backlogs for years following the retrogression that began in May 2023. Not only are those who filed cases months after the retrogression began now eligible to apply for adjustment of status without delay, but even foreign nationals for whom a petition has not yet been filed may benefit from the current cutoff dates. Beyond the categories reaching 'current' status, many other EB-2 and EB-3 categories advanced by up to a full year in this bulletin cycle. This broad advancement affects a wide range of sponsored professions, including software developers, teachers, engineers, and registered nurses — all of whom fall under the EB-2 and EB-3 umbrella. Immigration practitioners are reminding U.S. employers that visa processing queues historically ebb and flow, and that retrogression may return in the future. Employers are encouraged to continue sponsoring foreign nationals and to view the current favorable conditions as part of a long-term process rather than a permanent state. For EB-3 applicants currently in the pipeline or considering initiating the process, this bulletin represents a critical window of opportunity to file for adjustment of status or pursue immigrant visas without the delays that have characterized recent years.